1 Timothy 6:6-19

Thanksgiving - Year B
Proper 20 (25) - Year C

Fight the good fight.

This is where we wrestle with what to trust. Here it is phrased in terms of eternity, which is just one of many pen names of G*D. After filtering out all the highfalutin attributions of immortality, unapproachable light, and the like, strive to give life. This is the measure of value to be used in evaluating whether we have dealt honorably with our opportunities.

So what can be trusted in your life? Because of one experience or another or many is there anything trustable? If not, I’m sorry to have not striven well enough for you. If you suspect there might be something trustable, then comes the testing of it. The witness of the generations is that economic systems come and go so whatever “rich” means is both uncertain and never attainable as there will never be enough riches to take uncertainty out of the equation. The same holds true with applicable commandments and cultural norms. Blessings on sorting through the appearances to bedrock, foundational values.

As you struggle with your trust issues and attendant decisions, there are four interrelated tasks that can be noted for the stewardship of what we do have, whether large or small. With what you do have,

http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2013/09/1-timothy-66-19.html

 

 

If we posit that we bring nothing into this world, then it is a gift to us. To attempt to control this gift by "wanting to be rich" begins us down a path that claims we can become the creator and whomp up, by our own bootstraps, if necessary, something beyond nothing.

Eventually the call comes to those who are content with this gift to become the gift -- "to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share" that, again, out of nothing will come another gift.

This paradigm seems like it should end with a treasure of a good foundation for all, but here it says it is for those who accept the gift of their life as a gift. I suspect that we have here a part of a larger story. In the same way that we are to love our neighbor as ourselves, so as we store up treasure for ourselves we are also storing it up for our neighbor with whom we will generously share what they never could understand was already theirs.

This really is a means game, not an ends game. We join GOD in meaning that all gifts will be greatly received. Even if delayed, we will look for the generous act that can be built upon.

http://www.kairoscomotion.org/lectionary/2004/september2004.html

 

 

Find a play on words and you have opened up a lovely playground of the mind. "As for those who in the present age are rich, command them not to be haughty, or to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but rather on God who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment."

Richie Rich might help us in this. It has been said that "More issues and stories have been published about Richie Rich than any other character, possibly in the entire history of comics books, with over 2000 issues to his credit." (source)

What happens when we are the special, only child of such enormous wealth? What are the responsibilities and opportunities of Christians who claim that for Jesus and for themself? Will we be haughty and uncertain (a not untypical situation)? Will we be certain of our foundation, now and ever, and freed to live life that really is abundant?

http://www.kairoscomotion.org/lectionary/2004/september2004.html

 

 

For a passage that begins with "Of course, there is great gain in godliness combined with contentment; for we brought nothing into the world, so that we can take nothing out of it", it sure gets active -- "shun", "pursue", "fight", "take hold", "I charge you", "command them", "do good", "store up", and again, "take hold".

While there is an inherent tension in life between letting go and getting on with it, the balance here seems to have been tilted toward the active rather than contemplative life. It dismisses living simply in favor of living passionately (no, don't hold me to that duality).

Given the youth of Timothy, action is perhaps appropriate to his spiritual experience, but it doesn't allow much alternative. Given the youth of Jesus and subsequent Church, action is our forte, not our reflective contemplation.

- - -

if godliness can be alloyed
with anything at all
contentment is a good choice

all too often godliness
tries to go it alone
and its qualities become brittle

being combined with contentment
is a great boon for a god
as well as for an almost god

mama church would do well
to teach contentment
before godliness

in so doing she would be surprised
that we can't have one
without the other

http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2007_09_01_archive.html

 

 

Enough can be enough when it comes to food and shelter and money. More than enough, though, gets in the way of other qualities where enough is never enough.

Has there been enough kindness shown yet? How about enough peace experienced or justice enacted? Will there ever be enough consideration given to the poor? What is the limit of an expansive and expanding love?

When we begin trading in commodities it turns out that enough is never enough. We are measured by an ever expanding base of quantity and coming up short of the elusive enough. This understanding leaks over into the qualities of life of which there really never is enough and we will cut any of their corners in order to receive more of the marketable goodies we desire.

Since those arenas in which enough will never be enough to deal with the latest reality are so important and so vulnerable to subversion, it is important to address the issue of how to deal with matters where enough can really be enough. Here the quality of the day is not a sense of authority to order arbitrary limits on enough or to find a refuge of off-shore tax exempt storage of commodities to add to enough. What is needed is a sense of contentment able to see through the masquerade of adequate diets and housing and income playing the pity game and needing just one little bite more, an extra room, or 10% more income.

Researchers tell us that it is not an absolute amount of money that brings "happiness", but where your money ranks in comparison with others. Simply having more than so-and-so brings the happiness of status, fleeting as it is. This however is not the kind of contentment that needs consideration. Here we have a reference to the Buddhist understanding of non-attachment - being content apart from the standard measuring tools. Contentment is a spiritual gift much needed in today's world of warring words setting family member against family member.

Better than, "Don't worry, be happy" is "In all things, contentment".

http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2010/09/1-timothy-66-19.html